San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova is 3.2 miles from Mather
No college sits inside Mather’s boundary, but San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova’s campus in Rancho Cordova, with 226 students on campus, is 3.2 miles from the center of town, and American River College is 7.9 miles away in Sacramento. About 6% of Mather’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as California (8%).
From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Mather. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
13
70,442 students on campus
Nearest college
3.2 mi
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova
Residents in college
6%
About the same as CA (8%)
Nearest community college
7.9 mi
American River College · $1,288 tuition
Nearest public university
7.6 mi
California State University-Sacramento · $8,018 in-state
Median household income
$146K
prices below start here
What stands out about college from Mather
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.
What it costs
What would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Family income
Starts at Over $110k, where Mather’s median household income ($146,023) falls.
The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.
Outcomes
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Mather: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
California State University-Sacramento56% graduate$65k earnings$15k typical debt
American River College37% graduate$40k earnings$10k typical debt
Sacramento City College33% graduate$42k earnings$10k typical debt
Cosumnes River College40% graduate$42k earnings$11k typical debt
Folsom Lake College44% graduate$43k earnings
Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc64% graduate$48k earnings*$13k typical debt
San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova76% graduate$38k earnings*$11k typical debt
Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova (14); Carrington College-Sacramento (5); Universal Technical Institute of Northern California Inc (3).
Questions about college near Mather
Is Mather a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Mather residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as California (8). The nearest campus, San Joaquin Valley College-Rancho Cordova, is 3.2 miles away in Rancho Cordova.
What colleges are near Mather?
13 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: California State University-Sacramento (7.6 miles, 29,083 students on campus), American River College (7.9 miles, 16,940) and Sacramento City College (11.2 miles, 8,001).
What is the closest community college to Mather, and what does it cost?
American River College in Sacramento, 7.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $1,288 a year for California residents; the federal net price, $7,999, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does California State University-Sacramento cost if we live in California?
Tuition and fees are $8,018 a year in-state and $20,618 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $6,501 (under $30,000 income) to $18,861 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Mather. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →